CVE-2023-46604: Apache ActiveMQ, Apache ActiveMQ Legacy OpenWire Module: Unbounded deserialization causes ActiveMQ to be vulnerable to a remote code execution (RCE) attack

Published Oct 27, 2023
·
Updated

Apache ActiveMQ contains a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability that may allow a remote attacker with network access to a broker to run shell commands by manipulating serialized class types in the OpenWire protocol to cause the broker to instantiate any class on the classpath.

Other sources

Apache ActiveMQ is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution.The vulnerability may allow a remote attacker with network access to a broker to run arbitrary shell commands by manipulating serialized class types in the OpenWire protocol to cause the broker to instantiate any class on the classpath.

Users are recommended to upgrade to version 5.15.16, 5.16.7, 5.17.6, or 5.18.3, which fixes this issue.

— Red Hat

The Java OpenWire protocol marshaller is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution. This vulnerability may allow a remote attacker with network access to either a Java-based OpenWire broker or client to run arbitrary shell commands by manipulating serialized class types in the OpenWire protocol to cause either the client or the broker (respectively) to instantiate any class on the classpath.

Users are recommended to upgrade both brokers and clients to version 5.15.16, 5.16.7, 5.17.6, or 5.18.3 which fixes this issue.

— MITRE

Affected Software

32 affected componentsFixes available
maven/org.apache.activemq:activemq-openwire-legacy>=5.18.0<5.18.3
5.18.3
maven/org.apache.activemq:activemq-openwire-legacy>=5.17.0<5.17.6
5.17.6
maven/org.apache.activemq:activemq-openwire-legacy>=5.16.0<5.16.7
5.16.7
maven/org.apache.activemq:activemq-openwire-legacy>=5.8.0<5.15.16
5.15.16
maven/org.apache.activemq:activemq-client>=5.18.0<5.18.3
5.18.3
maven/org.apache.activemq:activemq-client>=5.17.0<5.17.6
5.17.6
maven/org.apache.activemq:activemq-client>=5.16.0<5.16.7
5.16.7
maven/org.apache.activemq:activemq-client<5.15.16
5.15.16
debian/activemq<=5.16.1-1
5.16.1-1+deb11u15.17.2+dfsg-2+deb12u15.17.6+dfsg-1
Apache ActiveMQ
redhat/activemq<5.18.3
5.18.3
redhat/activemq<5.17.6
5.17.6
redhat/activemq<5.15.16
5.15.16
redhat/activemq-openwire-legacy<5.18.3
5.18.3
redhat/activemq-openwire-legacy<5.17.6
5.17.6
redhat/activemq-openwire-legacy<5.16.7
5.16.7
redhat/activemq-openwire-legacy<5.15.16
5.15.16
Apache ActiveMQ<5.15.16
Apache ActiveMQ>=5.16.0<5.16.7
Apache ActiveMQ>=5.17.0<5.17.6
Apache ActiveMQ>=5.18.0<5.18.3
Apache ActiveMQ Legacy OpenWire Module<5.15.16
Apache ActiveMQ Legacy OpenWire Module>=5.16.0<5.16.7
Apache ActiveMQ Legacy OpenWire Module>=5.17.0<5.17.6
Apache ActiveMQ Legacy OpenWire Module>=5.18.0<5.18.3
Debian Debian Linux=10.0
Debian Debian Linux=11.0
NetApp E-series Santricity Unified Manager
NetApp E-series Santricity Web Services Proxy
NetApp Santricity Storage Plugin Vcenter
IBM Engineering Requirements Management DOORS and DOORS Web Access<=9.7.2.1 - 9.7.2.11
IBM Engineering Requirements Management DOORS and DOORS Web Access<=9.6.1.1 - 9.6.1.13

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade maven/org.apache.activemq:activemq-openwire-legacy to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.18.3
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade maven/org.apache.activemq:activemq-openwire-legacy to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.17.6
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade maven/org.apache.activemq:activemq-openwire-legacy to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.16.7
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade maven/org.apache.activemq:activemq-openwire-legacy to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.16
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade maven/org.apache.activemq:activemq-client to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.18.3
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade maven/org.apache.activemq:activemq-client to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.17.6
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade maven/org.apache.activemq:activemq-client to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.16.7
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade maven/org.apache.activemq:activemq-client to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.16
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade debian/activemq to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.16.1-1+deb11u1Fixed in 5.17.2+dfsg-2+deb12u1Fixed in 5.17.6+dfsg-1
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/activemq to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.18.3
  11. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/activemq to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.17.6
  12. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/activemq to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.16
  13. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/activemq-openwire-legacy to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.18.3
  14. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/activemq-openwire-legacy to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.17.6
  15. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/activemq-openwire-legacy to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.16.7
  16. Upgrade

    Upgrade redhat/activemq-openwire-legacy to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.16
  17. Upgrade

    Upgrade Apache ActiveMQ (OpenWire Java-based broker and client) to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.15.16
  18. Upgrade

    Upgrade Apache ActiveMQ (OpenWire Java-based broker and client) to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.16.7
  19. Upgrade

    Upgrade Apache ActiveMQ (OpenWire Java-based broker and client) to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.17.6
  20. Upgrade

    Upgrade Apache ActiveMQ (OpenWire Java-based broker and client) to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 5.18.3
  21. Compensating control

    If mitigations are unavailable, discontinue use of the affected Apache ActiveMQ product as stated (CVE-2023-46604).

Event History

Oct 27, 2023
CVE Published
via MITRE·02:59 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·02:59 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·03:15 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Advisory Published
via GitHub·03:30 PM
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·07:44 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Nov 2, 2023
Known Exploited
via CISA·12:00 AM
Known Ransomware
via CISA·12:00 AM
Nov 20, 2023
News Published
04:54 PM
Nov 21, 2023
News Published
05:56 PM
Jul 23, 2024
Data Sourced
via Launchpad·09:31 PM
Description
Sep 13, 2024
Data Sourced
via Ubuntu·09:39 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Jan 23, 2025
News Published
via The Register·01:06 AM
News Published
via The Register·01:11 AM
Aug 19, 2025
News Published
via ZDNet·01:30 PM
News Published
via The Register·08:28 PM
Aug 23, 2025
News Published
via ZDNet·02:19 PM
Apr 8, 2026
News Published
via BleepingComputer·05:26 PM
News Published
via BleepingComputer·05:27 PM
Apr 17, 2026
News Published
via BleepingComputer·09:30 AM
Apr 21, 2026
News Published
via BleepingComputer·11:17 AM
Jul 6, 2026
Data Sourced
via IBM·12:00 AM
DescriptionAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Peer vulnerabilities

Found alongside the following vulnerabilities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is CVE-2023-46604?

CVE-2023-46604 is a vulnerability in Apache ActiveMQ that allows remote code execution.

2

How severe is CVE-2023-46604?

CVE-2023-46604 has a severity rating of 10, which is considered critical.

3

Which software versions are affected by CVE-2023-46604?

The affected software versions are: 5.18.0 to 5.18.3, 5.17.0 to 5.17.6, 5.16.0 to 5.16.7, and 5.8.0 to 5.15.16.

4

How can I fix CVE-2023-46604?

To fix CVE-2023-46604, upgrade Apache ActiveMQ to version 5.18.3, 5.17.6, 5.16.7, or 5.15.16.

5

Where can I find more information about CVE-2023-46604?

More information about CVE-2023-46604 can be found in the references provided: https://activemq.apache.org/security-advisories.data/CVE-2023-46604-announcement.txt, http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/10/27/5, and https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-46604.

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